Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Bruce eager to sign Bendtner

Steve Bruce admits he would love to keep Nicklas Bendtner after watching the on-loan Arsenal man inspire Sunderland’s fightback against West Brom.

Bendtner scored one goal and set up the equaliser for Ahmed Elmohamady, as Sunderland recovered from a nightmare start which saw them 2-0 down inside five minutes, to earn a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Bruce was full of praise for the 23-year-old, and pointed to the fact that Bendtner chose a move to Wearside over other offers as proof of the progress Sunderland have made since he took over two years ago.

“We’re very fortunate that he has come here and that, for me, is where the club has grown,” said Bruce, who also took Bendtner on loan while in charge at Birmingham five years ago. Given the clubs that were in for him, I don’t think we would have been able to bring him here two or three years ago. We can now offer him something that, in the past, I don’t think we could. The challenge for me is keeping him!"